*Students who have a bus change or large change in pick up/drop off times will receive a phone call from the transportation department.

BUS ROUTE CHANGES WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON MONDAY, JANUARY 28th

Questions regarding upcoming changes can be brought to:

Sylvia Dolfin, Transportation Supervisor: 269-539-5935

Student Pick-Up/Drop-Off

This procedure is to help provide for the safe and efficient transportation of the students attending Lawrence Public Schools.

Parent and Student Responsibilities:

Be at designated bus stop 10 minutes before designated time.

Stand 10 feet from the edge of the road at bus stops.

Do not approach the bus until bus has completely stopped and driver has signaled it is okay to enter.

If crossing the road at the bus stop, students are to remain off the road until the driver has given the proper signal to cross the road. The students MUST watch for approaching traffic.

When exiting the bus at drop off, the student shall proceed directly away from the bus on a door side drop. When crossing, the student shall move 10 feet in front of the bus and wait for the driver’s signal to cross. The student MUST also watch for any approaching traffic.

If student is a 3rd grader or younger, an adult MUST be at the bus stop or visible to the driver at drop off (unless there is an older sibling exiting with the student). If no adult (or older sibling) is present, the driver will not allow the student to exit, and the student will return to the bus garage with the driver.

Driver Responsibilities:

Set pick up and drop off times.

Run route to correspond with the set times accounting for weather and road conditions.

Perform appropriate bus stop procedures at each stop.

If students are not at bus stop at designated times, driver is allowed to proceed. The driver will notify the office/bus garage at that time if the student was not at the stop.

Bus Route Change Requests

The transportation department cannot accept multiple bus change requests. All established bus routes must be followed. Families with a change in schedule cannot request bus route changes to accommodate day-to-day family changes. Also, due to the number of students riding on buses, the transportation department will no longer allow friends to ride the bus home with regular bus riders.

Sick Students

If a child becomes ill near the end of the school day, it is at the discretion of the building principal whether or not a student is able to ride the bus home. Student symptoms and condition will factor in the decision of the principal. Parents should update emergency contacts and make plans for situations such as a sick child.

Student Bus Conduct

While it is the expectation that all students behave in a positive manner while riding District transportation, there may be an exception when bus conduct reports are issued. These reports are ways of communicating issues with parents as well as documenting incidents, especially when consequences are shared.

If a student receives a bus conduct report as the result of misconduct while riding in a school vehicle, the following policy will be followed:

First Bus Conduct Report-It is the student’s responsibility to take the conduct report to his/her parents for their signature. The student must return the signed report to his/her bus driver before they will be allowed to ride the bus again. Building staff will be made aware of the issue by the transportation department.

Second Bus Conduct Report-If a student receives a second bus conduct report during a school year, he/she will automatically be suspended from riding their bus for one school day. It is the student's responsibility to take the conduct report to his/her parents for their signature. Transportation staff will make a phone call home to parents to inform of the student’s behavior. Building staff will be made aware of the issue.

Third Bus Conduct Report-If a student receives a third conduct report during a school year, they will be suspended from riding their bus for three school days. It is the student’s responsibility to take the conduct report to their parents for their signature. When the third report is issued, the transportation department will contact the parents to schedule a mandatory meeting with the student, parent and building principal and transportation staff.

Fourth Bus Conduct Report-If a student receives a fourth bus conduct report during a school year, he/she will automatically be suspended from riding their bus for ten days. Transportation staff will make a phone call home to parents to inform of the student’s behavior. Building staff will be made aware of the issue.

Fifth Bus Conduct Report-If a student receives a fifth bus conduct report during a school year, he/she will automatically be suspended from riding their bus for the balance of the school year. Transportation staff will make a phone call home to parents to inform of the student’s behavior. Building staff will be made aware of the issue. The parents shall contact the transportation department by phone or email in order to arrange a conference, held before the student will be allowed to ride the bus again in the next school year

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If a parent or guardian does not agree with the decision of the transportation department, appeals may be made to the building principal. Final determinations will be made by the Superintendent.

If it is determined, due to the severity of the behavior, the District has a right to forgo established progressive steps to assign consequences according to the student behavior/infraction.